Boat Valuations: How to Price Your Boat for Sale

How do you set the right price for your boat? Ask too much and no one will want more information; ask too little and shoppers will wonder what’s wrong.

Price your boat strategically to attract the boat shoppers.

RESEARCH THE MARKET PRICE

To set a realistic price, you must educate yourself about the market for your particular boat. Start by checking the boats.com listings, as well as other sites like YachtWorld.com where prices are shown.

Unless it’s a custom design, or has very specialized equipment, there will be other boats like yours for sale.

How do you define “like yours?” If several of the same model and year are available, it will be easy to compare—the only variables left are maintenance and options. Make sure you are comparing apples to apples. Things like saltwater or freshwater use or extra equipment will influence the asking price you determine for on your boat.

BLUE BOOK BOAT VALUES

While auto pricing is closely tied to “blue book” value, boat values are not nearly so cut and dried. A pair of center consoles that came out of the same mold on the same day might have very different values three years later, depending on upgrades and maintenance schedules. Prices also fluctuate with location, season, and how anxious the seller is to move the boat. As a benchmark, especially for smaller boats, it’s a good idea to check your boat values with NADA Guides. For more information about how to use the NADA Guide, read Boat Prices with NADA Guides.

When you have a feel for the price range of boats like yours, evaluate your boat’s value within that range by reading Using Book Value to Price Your Boat: How to Judge What’s Fair? If you have a loan on your boat, check to see the exact payoff amount, including any balloon payments or other charges. Use that to set the absolute minimum price you will accept for your boat.

A well-documented maintenance schedule, equipment upgrades, and selling at the beginning of the boating season will all increase boat value. A neglected hull with original powertrain sold at the end of the season belongs at the bottom of the range. Be realistic—but also leave yourself room for negotiation. Every buyer wants to think they got a great deal.

Special tip: Adding “Or Best Offer” instantly softens your asking price. While you should plan to come down from your starting point, there is no need to over-emphasize your eagerness to bargain—unless selling as soon as possible is more important than getting the highest price.